EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Five, Number Three January/February 1996 The region of God's grace is not less than that of the whole creation. (Joseph Sittler, Essays on Nature and Grace) The Green Zone - A Region of God's Grace SEMINARY INCORPORATES THE GREEN ZONE CONCEPT The Green Zone, whether it is a seminary campus or a parish, is a geographical area in which lifestyle and activities promote a healthy environment, and where the people are committed to the healing of creation. It is a place to begin thinking comprehensively and creatively, to develop new attitudes and behavior towards the environment that are publicly recognizable by the wider community. In 1989 a group of faculty members and students at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago (LSTC) established the Green Zone as a working idea. For six years LSTC, with funds provided by its Global Missions Committee, has sponsored two student workers to foster Green Zone projects and to produce an occasional in-house newsletter. The model developed by LSTC has a four-fold emphasis: transformation through worship and education; making the campus a zone safe for the environment; promoting a personal lifestyle among members which fosters a healthy environment; political advocacy. Some of the LSTC Green Zone Accomplishments: Active support of the administration and teaching commitment of faculty members A course: "Greening the Church," that introduces ministerial students to all the resources they will need to provide professional leadership for environmental leadership in parish and community An in-house "Guide to Environmental Leadership for Pastors" for distribution to graduating seniors (1990) Collection of faculty sermons on the environment for graduating seniors Day long workshops on the environment for which students receive Practicum Credit Annual celebration of Earth Week, with liturgies, preaching, suppers, forums, etc. Commissioning and display of Earth Day banner Planting a tree in memory of a member of the community who has died Incorporating environmental celebrations into the liturgical calendar Pesticide-free lawn care for three years Complete recycling facilities in the living units, with instructions on the rear exit of each apartment in the language of the occupant Retrofitting of all lighting units in the main building, and other energy conservation measures Paper Use Guidelines for students, staff and faculty, and greater use of recycled paper products for the school Publication of a manual, "Care of the Earth: An Environmental Resource Guide for Church Leaders" Sponsorship of an intern to work with congregations in becoming Creation Awareness Centers. Co-sponsorship of conferences with other organizations For more on the Green Zone, write Dr. David Rhoads, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago IL 60615; 312/753-0753. Home     Table of Contents